School board receives report on CVJH

By PATSY STODDARDEditor

The Emery County School board met in their December meeting at Canyon View Junior High. Principal Jim Jones gave a status report on the school. He said Canyon View has 210 students. There are 101 girls and 109 boys. Two new students are checking in this week which will bring the total to 212.

CVJH mission statement is to prepare every student with knowledge, skills, values and vision for lifelong success.

Jones said on-going training is important to the staff and currently three teachers are involved in data training including: Curt Collard, Collette Clement and Andy Pollaehne. There are 13 teachers at Canyon View and five part-time teachers. "Our faculty and staff are excellent to work with and our support staff does a wonderful job," said Jones. The first term honor roll recently came out and 81 of the 210 students made the honor roll. The top cat award was presented to 103 of the 210 students. Seventeen students received a failing grade during the first term and those students are receiving remediation in the class or classes they failed. Some programs at the school include: Reading and writing club, Peer Tutoring at the Huntington Elementary by the seventh grade students. The accelerated reading program is used in all language arts classes as a reading incentive. The tune into reading program enables students to wear a headset and use a microphone as they sing songs that are categorized according to reading level on the computer. Students write at least 15 minutes each day in a journal during the learning strategies class. An item new this year is play away books. The Homework Helpers class is held each Monday and Tuesday.

Canyon View has placed special emphasis on character education. A number of programs have been held on these subjects: internet safety, cell phone safety, bullying and harassment and Red Ribbon week; incentive programs include: tickets for treasures, Top Cat, Student of the Week and award parties.

Special achievements for CVJH so far this year include: second place in football, second place in varsity volleyball; first place in junior varsity volleyball; honor society service project donated blankets to Primary Children's Hospital and they attended the Festival of Trees.

A Dutch oven cook-off was held at the school and a Patriots Day program. Upcoming events include a band concert on Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and a chorus concert on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.

Principal Jones introduced the counselor at the school, Ryan Hepworth to speak to the board. Hepworth said he took a bullying survey at Canyon View where students were asked if they have been bullied. He didn't include in the question whether or not the bullying had taken place at the school, but 113 students reported they have been bullied at some point in their school career whether it was at school or away from school wasn't noted. Bullying is lower in the higher grades and higher in the lower grades. By the time the students reach ninth grade the bullying isn't as intense. Reasons why the students were bullied included: looks, height, weight, name calling and lack of social skills. But, a number that Hepworth said was good was that only three students reported they had ever been bullied because of race or religion. The school has developed a plan to deal more effectively with bullying. Hepworth said bullying isn't a huge overwhelming problem at CVJH, but it is an issue and bullying won't be tolerated. Hepworth reported the United States Secret Service had done a survey which stated that in 37 incidents of school violence that included 41 attackers, 75 percent of those attackers had been bullied at some point. The Obama administration is encouraging schools to crack down on bullying. The Canyon View website has a place where bullies can be reported anonymously by parents and students. "We are working on bullying so it doesn't become an overwhelming problem," said Hepworth.

Board president Laurel Johansen thanked the principal for his report and for the outstanding work at Canyon View by Principal Jones and his teaching staff and support staff to help students succeed.

Superintendent Kirk Sitterud submitted two names for board approval. Suzette Roberts was approved as a three hour aide at Cottonwood Elementary. Kenneth Crowsen was approved as a tech teacher at Green River High. He is certified in arts, biology, general science and has a master's degree. He has taught 21 years and is currently teaching in Texas but wants to move back to be closer to his family. He has a son at Utah State and a son who will be a junior. Crowsen has an administrative license. Sitterud said he comes highly recommended and also has coached baseball and basketball. His start date was Dec. 6. Crowsen along with his wife and son will reside in Green River. The board approved the school board meeting dates for 2011 and the first meeting will be on Jan. 5.

The board approved the new three year calendar for the school district. The only date left up in the air is the fall break in 2013 which hasn't been set yet by UEA.

The board approved out of state travel for the automotive class to attend a competition in Hobbs, N.M. where they will compete against junior colleges. The board approved the jobs funding application. This money is from federal stimulus money and is in the amount of $249,821. Hires were made this year based on this funding and it is one time funding that will go away after next year.

A lease agreement on the Emery property was signed with Ferrin and Tina Hunsaker. They will lease the property for $250 per year. The school board approved the purchase of two lots in Castle Dale for future sites of the construction program houses. JuNette Terry is the realtor who handled the agreement. The lots are 1/4 to 1/3 an acre and one of them comes with culinary water shares so they won't have to be purchased.

Supt. Sitterud reported Emery High will be in the 2A classification in 2011. The new region will include: Emery, Grand, Richfield, South Sevier. The change will include more travel. Board members encouraged the superintendent and principals to look at travel and the amount of time students are out of the classroom for sports and other activities which involve travel. Sitterterud said that missing school is a statewide problem and changes at any individual school affect the whole region.

Ferron Elementary and Huntington Elementary have received recognition as high performing Title One schools. The have met the Adequate Yearly Progress as outlined in No Child Left Behind and have scored above average on testing.

The legislature wants to give the schools grades based on test scores, but the state school board would like a report card which surveys and evaluates a number of areas in addition to test scores. Areas could include: attendance, ACT scores, graduation numbers, number of students reading at grade level, safe school efforts and a number of other areas.

The basis for this report card evaluation came from the state of Florida where after the report cards were introduced an increase was seen in academic performance by students, but Supt. Sitterud reported the report cards were started only after Florida had pumped millions into their schools. Money into schools for programs would work better than the grading of schools. Supt. Sitterud said this is an issue to watch in the upcoming legislature.